At Emirates Stadium on Saturday, Arsenal take on Everton in Premier League action hoping to be ready to snatch at the inevitable opportunity to gain ground in the title race whenever it comes.
The Gunners have found their form of late and are biding their time to pounce whenever Liverpool experience a slip. Trailing the leaders by six points plus an extra game, Arsenal know they have little room for error and can ill afford to fall further back in the hunt.
Mikel Arteta may have to get creative in formulating his starting defence against an Everton side hoping to put together their first winning streak of the campaign.
The Toffees have not won consecutive matches at any point this season, and having blasted Wolves 4-0 at home last time out, they will look to now snatch what would be an upset result if they can secure any points, let alone victory.
Sitting 15th in the table, Everton are five points above the relegation zone. While they aren’t yet considered amongst the relegation favourites, they could be sucked into the vortex with any more poor results.
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Arsenal vs. Everton lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
There was confusion around whether Declan Rice would be suspended for this game after receiving five yellow cards for the season. However, because two of those came in the same game — the 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion — Rice will not serve a ban until he receives another.
The Gunners are still without Ben White, who had knee surgery in November. Gabriel could return after missing the midweek Champions League game with a knock, but Arteta said Riccardo Calafiori is not ready.
Oleksandr Zinchenko remains out of action, while Takehiro Tomiyasu continues to work back from a knee issue and will need a few more weeks.
Arsenal predicted lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Raya (GK) — Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber — Odegaard, Rice, Merino — Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Injured: Zinchenko (undisclosed), Calafiori (knee), White (knee), Tomiyasu (knee)
Suspended: None
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Everton are in good shape from a fitness perspective, as most players who are missing are not regular contributors. They are without James Garner who has been out since mid-October with a back injury, but otherwise are mostly at full strength.
Michael Keane is set to return from his three-match absence, but it’s unclear whether he will slide straight into the lineup or if he will be eased back in from a knee injury. Young midfielder Timothy Iroegbunam is out for a number of weeks with a foot injury, while 20-year-old striker Youssef Chermiti could be available soon to challenge a struggling Dominic Calvert-Lewin for his starting spot.
Everton predicted XI (4-4-1-1, right to left): Pickford (GK) — Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko — Ndiaye, Gueye, Mangala, McNeil — Doucoure — Calvert-Lewin
Injured: Keane (knock), Garner (back), Iroegbunam (leg), Chermiti (foot)
Suspended: None
Arsenal vs. Everton live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Premier League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
| TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | — | Peacock |
| Canada | — | Fubo Canada |
| UK | — | — |
| Australia | — | Optus Sport |
| India | — | Disney+ Hotstar, JioTV |
